Get the latest news from around Illinois.
ABC 7 Chicago: COVID Illinois: In-person services resuming at secretary of state offices
There is some good news for Illinois motorists who have been waiting all month for the Secretary of State’s office to resume in-person services.
Secretary of State Jesse White’s office said offices – including driver services facilities – that have been closed since Jan. 3 because of the surge in positive COVID-19 cases across Illinois are opening up again on Monday. Those offices that operate on a Tuesday-Saturday schedule will reopen on Tuesday, according to a news release.
State Journal-Register: As remote work at the Capitol continues, some state lawmakers attend meetings on the road
State lawmakers have been working remotely since the start of the year because of the ongoing pandemic, conducting the business of government over Zoom meetings. While most lawmakers take the video calls from their offices, some have been debating and voting from sidewalks and cars.
Last week, Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, virtually attended a House energy and environment committee meeting while driving himself and his wife back to Illinois.
WBBM: State grants to help 7 communities hit by civil unrest in 2020 recover
The state of Illinois recently announced about $8.4 million in additional grants to help businesses and communities hit by civil unrest, and a Chicago nonprofit is helping to ensure the money goes to the right places.
“It was really tough for a lot of businesses and this program, specifically addressing that civil unrest is unique across the state,” Meghan Harte, executive director of the Local Initiative Support Corporation in Chicago, told WBBM Newsradio.